November 13, 2006

Seiko Epson Corp. (Epson) and Microsoft Corp. today announced a cross-licensing agreement that allows increased mutual access to each company’s respective patent portfolios. The agreement will enable each company to broaden its product offerings and deliver more comprehensive, cost-effective solutions. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The expansion of the long-standing relationship between Epson and Microsoft will promote the exchange and implementation of patented technologies in many consumer and business electronics product areas.

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Epson is very active in filing and securing patents, and has maintained an outstanding position in the global patent rankings, particularly in Japan, where it was ranked third in published patents in 2005.

Microsoft has established a solid record of collaborating with other technology innovators and has entered into cross-licensing agreements with leading technology companies that include Cisco Systems Inc., NEC Corp., Nortel Networks, Siemens AG, SAP AG and Toshiba.